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"Bruce? Who's Bruce?"

"Bruce Lester, Kih-school senior," she said

I didn't want to ask any more questions I was afraid of the answers She arrived forty-five minutes later and we all went to see Mother The sedative the doctor had prescribed to keep her calic and sleepy She dozed on and off while ere there I saw Belinda was uncoht of her hooked to an IV Finally, Daddy decided we should leave

Once away from the hospital, Belinda rattled on and on about her day, describing her girlfriends, many of whom she hadn't seen for a while Neither Daddy nor I paid much attention, but she didn't seem to notice or care

"Everyone thinks I'm better off without Carson They all say it would have been a disastrouswith everything, giving her opinions, s work out for the best sometimes," she chimed

Daddy stared through her, barely eating his meal

"Right, Belinda," I said "You're not enrolled in any school You don't have any skills to speak of You have no other prospects at the s have worked out for the best," I said dryly

She laughed

"Don't worry I'll have other prospects when I want them," she said with so much confidence, it irked me Daddy raised his eyebrows and then shook his head "Let's worry about yourelse," he finally declared

It put an end to Belinda's babbling, for which I was grateful The et on the telephone and continue her banter with anyone ould listen I felt sorry for Daddy He looked so ined Daddy had steel in his bones No er or cohtening to see him look weak and defeated

He poured hi out theat the gradually clearing sky until he was too tired to keep his eyes open

Belinda didn't go with us to the hospital in the h and both Daddy and I thought it would be better not to have her ton

"I've got her stomach calmed so comfortably"

"How long before you have results?" I asked

"Another day at least," he said "I'll be on the phone with Doctor Friedman this afternoon"